Sorry everyone for this long and overdue chapter. I've had major writer's block (with no help from the business of school staring back up again).

P.S. Reviews are always nice ;) Enjoy!

"Melanie!" Jenni shouted, coming into the common room after talking with James. Melanie turned around from where she was sitting on the couch with Scarlett. She stood up and Jenni could tell from the puffiness around her eyes she was crying.

"What?" she sniffled. Jenni didn't answer. Instead, she walked up to her and embraced her in a firm and comforting hug. Melanie hugged her back and started to sniffle more.

"I was such an arse to you," Jenni choked, "I had no reason to yell at you. All you were doing was being a good friend to me and I took it in the complete opposite of your intentions. I'm so sorry. I was just being dramatic; it's what I do."

"I accept your apology," Melanie said as they pulled apart, "and yes, you definitely were an arse to me and are definitely dramatic. But, that's all right. I'm bound to return the favor eventually."

The two girls laughed, and talked the rest of the day; from dinner to bedtime, they were inseparable. They talked about everything, from exams to spring break - with the occasional quips from James and Fred to make things fresh.

That night as the girls were getting ready for bed, Beth came up with the brilliant idea for a late night talk with everyone. She gathered each of the girls to surround her bed.

"So," she began, "what's up with everyone? I feel like we haven't talked in a long time."

"About what exactly?" Scarlett inquired.

"Anything… everything," Beth said cryptically.

"Why don't you start," Jenni offered.

"Okay!" she said excitedly, worrying the other four girls, "how about…boys."

'Leave it to Beth to want to talk about boys late into the night,' Jenni thought.

"So, any of you fancy one of them?" she questioned eyeing everybody. They shook their heads, and looked around expectantly for one of them to answer her question.

"Anyone? None of them?" she asked desperately, "Hannah? Mel? Jenni? Scarlett? Surely Scarlett, you like someone, or someone likes you?"

"Why are you zeroing in on me?" she exclaimed.

"Because you have those striking green eyes," Beth said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Just because I have striking green eyes doesn't mean I strike people," she huffed.

"Okay, okay. Backing off," said Beth, "Jenni! Of Course! James!"

"Umm… sorry?" she said in bewilderment, "Never in a million years! That's ridiculous!"

Scarlett and Hannah were staring at Jenni as though they knew a secret she wasn't aware of. Beth was looking at her knowingly, and Melanie had her mouth open like a child would at the doctor's office. Jenni kept her gaze on Beth, looking at her like she was staring at a thestral for the first time.

"Admit it!" Beth accused.

"I will admit nothing, especially since there is nothing to admit," Jenni said informatively, "I like James, but he's practically my brother! That's never happening. Besides, I'm only eleven for Merlin's sake! What do you expect me to do at eleven? Jump on the boyfriend train to marriage-ville? No, definitely not."

"Okay," Beth said calmly, "backing off once again."

"Yes. And stay off," Jenni said, agitated by her friend.

"Denial isn't just a river in Egypt…" Scarlett mumbled. Jenni gave her a withering stare.

"I'm going to bed before any of you decide to make up anymore absurd assumptions about me and James," she proclaimed. Little did she know that the very boy was standing outside the door with a textbook in hand, a question diminishing in his mind, and crushed emotions entering as he listened to the girls' conversation.

"Did you find out… " Fred stopped short as his cousin entered the room and sat on his bed with a depressed expression, "what happened?"

"She doesn't like me," he said downcast.

Who? Jenni?" Fred asked. James nodded in reply.

"You'll be fine. There are plenty of other girls in this school, plus you're only eleven. You don't need a relationship at eleven," Fred encouraged, " anyway, what do you expect to do at elven? Go to Wedding Island?"

"Yeah, you're right," he said, even though he didn't agree with him 100 percent.

"Just try to sleep, wake up in the morning and forget about it," Fred said, "don't act any different, or else something will seem obviously wrong. Try not to think about it."

James nodded and got ready for bed and sank into his sheets immediately. He couldn't get the conversation he overheard out of his head. He continued to analyze every word they all said to make some sense of everything. Was he too obvious? Was she too oblivious? Or perhaps she really was in denial. He began to think about what Fred and Jenni both said.

They were only eleven 'but mum was a year younger when she liked dad,' he defended to himself. 'Dad didn't have those feelings for mum until he was sixteen' he thought. 'Oh no. Will I have to wait five years until she likes me – if she likes me,' he considered. He decided to stop his incessant thinking and focus on what he needs – sleep. He closed his eyes, cleared his head, and prayed that he wouldn't act too differently around Jenni.

Months passed by since James accidentally eavesdropped on the first year Gryffindor girl's conversation. He stuck his best into not acting strange around Jenni. For the most part he was successful, but on the other hand friends – including Jenni - noticed something about him seemed off. Fred being the only one who knows the reason behind his best friends different manner, chooses not to mention anything to anyone, and plans to keep his cousin busy and distract him from thoughts of Jenni by pulling more pranks (without the assistance from Jenni).

Fred can see that nothing seems to change in James' mood outside of pranking. He talks to him, but feels as though he would receive a better response talking to the giant squid. Easter was coming around the corner and Fred came up with an idea that might make James feel better.

"James?" Fred asked one night.

"Hmm?" James mumbles as he does homework for Transfiguration.

"I have a thought that may help you, considering your… situation," he says delicately.

"What's the idea?" James asked, not looking up from his homework.

"I think it would be best for you if you went home for break while Jenni stays here with her girls. You know? Take a little time away," he says empathetically.

James looks up at him thoughtfully, "That's a good idea. I'll write to mum and dad to tell them."

"Yeah, I should probably tell my parents I'm coming home too," Fred mused.

"You're coming with me?" James said amused.

"Of course I am! I'm offended you think I wouldn't!" Fred said mocking sadness.

James laughed, "Yeah, well, you want to join me in telling Jenni the news once we hear back?"

Fred gave him a nervous look, "Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. I probably should."

"Good, because I didn't want to be alone," James said relieved.

The following day, the two received replies from their parents saying that they'd be happy to have them home for the upcoming break. Their siblings were excited and parents thrilled. However, Ginny and Harry were curious to know if Jenni would be joining them. James concluded that he should tell Jenni the change of plans for him and Fred.

The found her talking with Scarlett in the square after eating lunch. The boys went over and asked if they could talk with her alone. Jenni got up and walked with them to a tree a short distance away.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Well, you see," Fred began cautiously, "James and I were thinking – together - that we aren't really ready to spend some time away from our parents and siblings just yet."

"Uh-huh. So you say?" she said suspiciously.

"Yes. And we decided – together – that we would go back home, spend break with them, and stay at Hogwarts another time. That is, when we're less attached," James finished for Fred.

"I see. So you decide to just walk away from something we've all planned for months all because you're… attached," she said sardonically.

"You're mad," Fred said.

"Nope. Not mad, just disappointed," she replies.

"That's mum for mad," Fred notes.

"Well I'm not a mum," she says irritably, "so I'm not mad."

"Alright, you aren't mad," said Fred meekly.

"I suppose I'll see you in a week, since you'll leave tomorrow," she says remotely.

"I suppose," James says somberly. Jenni nods and walks back to Scarlett.

The two boys look at her as she walks away, and then turn around to go up to their dormitory to pack. Fred looks at the ground as they walk back and James starts to feel even more depressed than he did before.